When Ivy He joined Brown University’s Human to Robot Laboratory in 2023, her first project was helping a fellow PhD student figure out how dogs respond to human gestures. He, who is focused on social robots, began to wonder if these same kinds of gestures could also be used to train and direct robots.
He told Jason Liu, a postdoctoral associate and researcher under the same professor, Stefanie Tellex, about her idea. Liu had recently wrapped a project that used natural language to instruct robots on how to navigate environments the same way people chat with ChatGPT.
When Marc learnt that his young son had a rare genetic condition affecting his mobility, his future looked uncertain. With a determined outlook, Marc came across a life-changing piece of equipment, designed to help users use their legs to walk. With this groundbreaking piece of technology by Trexo, Marc’s son Mitchell and his family are building their confidence step by step and bringing the power of movement to Mitchell.
Produced for Toyota Mobility Foundation as part of the Age of Automation series.
Whether you’re ready or willing to admit it, humanoid robots are coming. For years, and realistically still today, humanoids have been an exciting technology and an excellent discussion topic, but have been viewed as not quite ready for widespread adoption.Continue Reading
The AI conversation in manufacturing has reached an inflection point. After two years of pilots, proofs of concept, and boardroom enthusiasm, a pattern is emerging: the companies seeing real operational impact from AI are not the ones with the most sophisticated models.
Manufacturers were slower than some industries to adopt digital technologies, a gap that became more visible during the COVID-19 pandemic as companies faced supply chain disruptions and shifting operational demands.
Colin Angle, the inventor of the iconic Roomba automated vacuum, is back with another robot that hangs around the house. This time it’s not a roaming vacuum cleaner, though, but a furry — and eerily lifelike, if not creepy — companion called a “Familiar.”
Most of them did not fail because the ambition was too small. They failed because the technology was not yet good enough to understand people, adapt to real homes, or earn a place in daily life.
In this episode of Automated, Brian Heater speaks with Colin Angle, founder and CEO of Familiar Machines & Magic and co-founder of iRobot, about why this moment in robotics feels fundamentally different.
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